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Chickens fly under radar of welfare regulations

Chickens are intelligent, social animals with strong maternal instincts - hence the term 'mother hen'. Naturally, chickens can live 10 years or more; in battery cages they live 18 months, and in broiler ... Facebook Twitter Pinterest

Chickens are intelligent, social animals with strong maternal instincts - hence the term 'mother hen'. Naturally, chickens can live 10 years or more; in battery cages they live 18 months, and in broiler (meat) barns, 33 days. (CNW Group/Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals)

TV/web campaign highlights plight of Canada's 680 million farmed chickens to help mark World Day for Farmed Animals

TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Intense confinement, rapid growth and grueling transport are the focus of a new national campaign about chickens that includes a 30-second spot airing on the CTV and CBC news networks. The launch coincides with World Day for Farmed Animals, Friday, October 2.

"Millions of birds live and die in misery in Canada because of cramped cages for laying hens, crazy genetics for meat birds, and transport conditions that are beyond unacceptable," says Stephanie Brown, director of the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, which produced the campaign.

A recent court case involving Canada's Maple Lodge Farms revealed that on one truckload of 10,000 birds, more than half froze to death on the way to slaughter.

High numbers of dead birds are an accepted part of the poultry business, Brown says, due to factors like just-in-time production and a food system that puts productivity before welfare.

Image with caption: "Chickens are intelligent, social animals with strong maternal instincts - hence the term 'mother hen'. Naturally, chickens can live 10 years or more; in battery cages they live 18 months, and in broiler (meat) barns, 33 days. (CNW Group/Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151001_C7806_PHOTO_EN_511722.jpg